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40 Songs That Changed The World

April 28, 2007 | Other
The current issue of Rolling Stone celebrates the magazine's 40th anniversary. Editors from Rolling Stone magazine compiled a list of the 40 songs that changed the world. Elvis' version of "That's All Right" is featured on that list. The editors challenge you to sent your comments on which songs you think have shaken and shifted our planet to create a new list. based on the best picks. On June 29th, the list of the people speaks.

In this edition Mick Jagger talks about how Elvis brought sexuality to pop music.

1. Elvis Presley "That's All Right"
2. Ray Charles "I Got A Woman"
3. Chuck Berry "Maybellene"
4. Bob Dylan "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall"
5. The Kingsmen "Louie Louie"
6. The Ronettes "Be My Baby"
7. The Beatles "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"
8. Martha and the Vandellas "Dancing In The Street"
9. The Rolling Stones "(I Cant Get No) Satisfaction"
10. Bob Dylan "Like A Rolling Stone"
11. The Beatles "Strawberry Fields Forever"
12. The Velvet Underground "Herion"
13. Jimi Hendrix "Purple Haze"
14. Aretha Franklin "Respect"
15. Led Zeppelin "Whole Lotta Love"
16. James Brown "Get Up (I Feel Like being a) Sex Machine"
17. Marvin Gaye "What's Going On"
18. John Lennon "Imagine"
19. David Bowie "Ziggy Stardust"
20. Bob Marley "I Shot The Sheriff"
21. Joni Mitchell "Help Me"
22. Bruce Springsteen "Born To Run"
23. Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody"
24. The Ramones "Blitzkrieg Bop"
25. Donna Summer "I Feel Love"
26. The Sex Pistols "Anarchy in the UK"
27. The Sugarhill Gang "Rappers Delight"
28. Black Flag "TV Party"
29. Michael Jackson "Billie Jean"
30. Prince "When Doves Cry"
31. U2 "Pride (In The Name Of Love)"
32. Madonna "Like A Virgin"
33. Dun DMC and Aerosmith "Walk This Way"
34. The Cure "Just Like Heaven"
35. Guns N Roses "Sweet Child O Mine"
36. Public Enemy "Bring The Noise"
37. Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
38. Dr. Dre "Nuthin' But A G Thang"
39. Britney Spears "...Baby One More Time"
40. The White Stripes "Fell In Love With A Girl"
Source:Rolling Stone

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FJE wrote on April 28, 2007
I tend to agree with most of the choices here, even though I'm not a big fan of artists like "The Sugarhill Gang", "Black Flag", "Public Enemy" and "Dr. Dre". But Britney Spears changing the world with any of her songs?! Give me a break! She wasn't even able to change her panties (nappies?)! She just threw them away!!
Cruiser621 wrote on April 28, 2007
Absolute rubbish! Not even close! Were's Little Richard and Fats Domino?
Steve V wrote on April 28, 2007
Elvis, Dylan, The Beatles, & BRITNEY SPEARS? On the same list? Cmon editors you cant be serious.
RonBaker wrote on April 28, 2007
My guess is the editors were not of the 50s-60s generation. They picked Elvis' first record. Nothing wrong with that. I think maybe if we want to get into arguments, we could argue that "Rocket 88" should be there...how about Louis Jordan's "Caledonia"? Those are really early records and both were inspiration to Little Richard.
Mystery Rider wrote on April 28, 2007
some list, where did they come up with it ? Britney Spears changed the world, yeah bald woman are in
Jerome wrote on April 29, 2007
where is John Travolta's 'Grease Lightning' and 'Old McDonald had a farm?'
My boy, my boy wrote on April 29, 2007
That`s a good sarcastic analogy Jerome...grease lightning...I suggest to John to release a re-mix of "summer night" but with Britney instead of Olivia this time...it shall make it to the top 40 list for sure...hehehe !
byebye wrote on April 30, 2007
"Rock around the clock" oughtta be at #1. Followed by Little Richard´s "Tutti Frutti", and then"Heartbreak" or "Hounddog". And about Britney... With "Baby one more time" the Swedish songwriter/producer team Cherion actually set a standard for that sound in the "90s. They also did nSYNC, Backstreet boys etc etc. And even though I´m not a fan, no one cant ignore the impact it had on the teen scene. "That´s all right mama" is actually a pretty lame tune that did not change anything in the world, apart from the fact that it was Elvis ticket to RCA and the truly groundbreaking single "Heartbreak Hotel". It´s a shame that It´s simply there because of political, economical, and also racial reasons... And poor Bill Haley is obvious too old and unsexy to be recognised for the single that actually changed a whole generation in the `50s, by hip Rolling Stone magazine. What a joke!
Steve V wrote on April 30, 2007
Rock Around The Clock def belongs as well as Little Richard & perhaps Fats Domino. Rock Around was featured in the movie Blackboard Jungle and that exposure really gave rock & roll music its exposure & boost. It really needs to be on that list, prob more than any other record. Also Heartbreak Hotel which then took it to yet another level. But if you want to include a Sun record, maybe Myrsery Train which actually made the charts.
Devon wrote on May 02, 2007
With the start of that song the whole world would never be the same, god bless scotty and bill for takeing the chance with and unknowen boy.